I've Just Seen a Face

Matt Murdoch: Guitar & vocal
Tana Ladner: Electric bass & harmony vocal
Zoomer Roberts: Lead guitar
Recorded c. 1984

Here were three past or present members of Applejack rehearsing for a one-off gig: we were to open for Byron Berline & the L.A. Fiddle Band. To that end, we got together one afternoon and worked up some tunes, and I taped the proceedings on my Montgomery Ward boombox. It probably didn't go any farther than this (I'm certain we didn't play the job) but some things happened that day that hadn't happened before and wouldn't happen again. A third of a century after the fact, it's sweet to hear once again the long-ago sounds of those long-ago friends...

Friend of the Devil

Matthew Murdoch: Guitar & vocal
Tana Ladner: Harmony vocal
Zoomer Roberts: Acoustic bass

Don't That Road Look Rough and Rocky

Tana Ladner: Rhythm guitar & vocal
Matt Murdoch: Electric bass & harmony vocal
Zoomer Roberts: Dobro
Recorded c. 1984

(I Have No One to Love Me But) The Sailor on the Deep Blue Sea

Zoomer Roberts: Lead vocal & Dobro
Tana Ladner & Matt Murdoch: rhythm guitar, electric bass, harmony vocal 
Recorded c. 1984

On the Sunny Side of the Street

Zoomer Roberts: vocal & harmonica
Buddy Winston: guitar
Recorded 19 November 2016

The Convict and the Rose

Zoomer Roberts: vocal & harmonicas
Buddy Winston: guitar
Recorded 19 November 2016

Your Sweet and Shining Eyes

Buddy Winston: Lead vocal, rhythm and lead guitars
Zoomer Roberts: Harmony vocal, steel guitar, bass, drum machine

Recorded in the late 1980s for an Applejack album. Exact date[s] unknown.

I Have No One to Love Me (But the Sailor on the Deep Blue Sea)

Zoomer Roberts: vocal & guitar
Recorded 1 May 1982

I learned this song from Hal Smith, who got it from Flatt & Scruggs, who got it from the Carter Family, who got it from -- well, you get the idea.

The World Is Waiting for the Sunrise

The Shade Tree Boys at the Jade Club, 1970

Randy Jones: Lead vocal & mandolin

Henry Beebe: Tenor vocal & banjo

Zoomer Roberts: Baritone vocal & bass

Ted Wasser: Drums

Perry Harrison: Dobro (seen in photo but not present on this recording)

In 1970, Hal Smith took a leave of absence from the Shade Tree Boys. Randy Jones, recently excited about the Dillards' "Wheatstraw Suite" LP, flashed on the idea of hiring a drummer, rehearsing, and becoming a serious acoustic/electric outfit. It was short-lived ~ the band was too stuck in its ways to make such a drastic change ~ but we had some good stuff worked up. My one attempt at recording a gig produced a lot of noise and precious little signal, and I later recorded over it. However, 10 minutes survived at the end of the second side of the tape: the last chorus of "White Lightnin'," which consists almost entirely of Henry making retching noises; me singing "Hey Porter" a quarter-tone flat; and this little gem. I tried to boost the signal and remove the noise, but some print-through can be heard in the quieter passages. Because the bass and drums weren't miked, they are mostly inaudible, except for ~ inexplicably ~ the bass drum. What remains is the pickin', the singin', and my fond memories...

Listen!

Can't Help Falling In Love (instrumental)

Zoomer Roberts: harmonica
Buddy Winston: guitar
arranged by Bob Dylan
rec. 13 February 2016

Paul and Silas

Zoomer Roberts: vocal & harmonica
Buddy Winston: harmony vocal & guitar
Ed Starkey: electric bass
Recorded in El Paso & Houston 

The Patriot's Dream

Ted Taylor: 12-string guitar & vocal
Zoomer Roberts: bass & harmony vocal
Recorded 14 June 1972 at the 1912 Emporium in Dallas, Texas

Medley of Old-Fashioned Waltzes

"Little Rascals" Theme (Good Old Days)
Sweet Bunch of Daisies
Take Me Out to the Ball Game

Zoomer Roberts: Harmonicas
Buddy Winston: Guitars

Recorded 31 October 2015

A Six-Pack to Go

Texas Goldrush

Zoomer Roberts: lead guitar & vocal

Cliff Seaman: rhythm guitar

Cindy Bickford: drums

TBD: bass

Recorded at the Office Bar, 1974

Bede auf Vérité (previously unreleased)

Performed by the Trashtones

This short-lived garage band is shrouded in mystery. Even the identities of the participants are unknown. This demo tape was discovered in a dumpster in Hatch, New Mexico, and is generally thought to be the only surviving example of their unprecedented artistic achievement: combining classic German lieder with Southwestern raunch. It has been meticulously remastered to reveal the intricate subtleties of the rhythm section and the startlingly brilliant guitar solo. The vocals, especially the lovely bel canto in the adagio, are obviously the product of years of operatic training. Unfortunately, the lyrics are unintelligible. A panel of linguistic experts has studied this tape closely and arrived at the conclusion that it is sung in a forgotten Austrian sub-dialect. Still, the shimmering coloratura and majestic crescendi make this an unparalleled emotional experience that transcends the preconceptions of postmodern vernacularisms.

Detour

Zoomer Roberts: vocal & harmonica
Buddy Winston: guitar
recorded 30 August 2014

photo by Pat O. Winston

Daddy's French Harp

Donis W. Roberts: harmonica
Ray (Zoomer) Roberts: guitar
Recorded circa 1966 at 4736 Chisos Lane, El Paso

Over the Waves
Spanish Two-Step
Red Wing

Tammy (instrumental)

Zoomer Roberts: harmonica
Buddy Winston: guitar
Recorded 26 April 2014

We Shall Overcome

Zoomer Roberts: vocal/songleader
Buddy Winston: guitar
Recorded 19 January 2014 at Grace Presbyterian Church

Columbus Stockade Blues

 

Zoomer Roberts: lead vocal & harmonica
Buddy Winston: harmony vocal & guitar
Recorded 7 December 2013 at La Tierra Cafe

photos by Pat O. Winston